"Mmmhhmm?" was about all I could muster in reply, but I presumed that that meant it was time to move from the Avocado Almond Lustre Skin wrap to the 'Ibu's Secret', an invigorating deep-tissue massage adopted from traditional Balinese techniques.

It was all part of the three-hour 'Bliss' treatment, one of the range of wellness regimes on offer at the Angsana spa in Cape Town. Located in the hotel's beautifully modern riverside wing, the arrival of Angsana in South Africa (the Vineyard's spa is the first in the country) has brought the last word in Asian wellness to the Cape.

Maximum benefit from the treatment is the name of the game here, so don't be surprised to find yourself having a treatment in your, soon to be revitalised, birthday suit. Explaining each step of the treatment along the way, the disarmingly shy Thai therapists are experts at making you feel comfortable though, so first-timers unused to treatments can simply relax and enjoy.

The range of treatments on offer at Angsana reads more like a restaurant menu than a wellness regime, with Lemon Yoghurt scrubs, Oatmeal Honey Lime body polishes and Indian Spice skin enhancers promising to bring new life to world-weary bodies.

The Angsana certainly isn't cheap, but compared to other top-notch spas it's excellent value for money and has quickly established itself as one of the top spas in Cape Town. Stunning treatment rooms, an innovative range of treatments and highly qualified therapists ensure that it's money well-spent for that special treat.

Settle in the cellar
Special occasions of a gastronomic kind are also well-catered for at the Vineyard. Presided over by the talented and charming Alex Coupy, the excellent Au Jardin restaurant specialises in providing a modern take on classic French cuisine. The restaurant itself is looking a little dated, but this is due to change in July 2005 when a full make-over is planned.

Make sure you take a stroll through the six acres of spectacular gardens at the Vineyard.

However, with a bit of forward planning, Coupy's creations on the plate can be well matched by the setting. Make sure you call a week or so in advance and reserve a table, well, the only table in fact, in the restaurant's wine cellar and enjoy a candlelit dinner like no other.

Surrounded by some of the restaurant's most prized bottles of vino it's the perfect setting for anything from a romantic dinner for two to a family celebration. Choose from the daily set menu or the wonderful array on offer a la carte. In two marvellous dinners there Coupy's mix of classical French and modern world cuisine have yet to disappoint.

Keeping with the times
Classic with a modern twist seems to be a theme running throughout the Vineyard. The hotel may trace its history back to 1799 when Lady Anne Barnard, one of the Cape colony's leading ladies, decided that the banks of the Liesbeeck would make a lovely setting for a house, but since then the hotel has built on and around the original homestead, taking full advantage of the fantastic riverside setting.

The Vineyard boasts 173 rooms in total, but the new riverside wing is undoubtedly the pride and joy of the hotel. The sleek modern décor comes as a pleasant surprise and will appeal to the more discerning traveller. Plush leather couches and flat-screen TVs are just what's needed after a hard day's sight-seeing, the Mozambican Kiaat wood-flooring, natural stone tiles in each bathroom and the rich hardwood furnishings ensuring your stay is as luxurious as it is relaxing.

The riverside wing and Angsana spa also enjoy direct access to the new gym and pool complex which was completed in 2004 at a cost of over R20-million. With a fully-equipped gymnasium, rim-flow pool and heated indoor pool there's no excuse for not working off Alex Coupy's fantastic cuisine.

Nestled in the leafy suburb of Newlands, the Vineyard Hotel is surprisingly chic and will surprise many a traveller. Popular with overseas tourists, the hotel is surprisingly affordable (in 2003 it was voted Best Value for Money Hotel by GQ magazine) for local visitors and makes a great base for exploring the Cape, or simply a decadent getaway for an indulgent weekend of fine dining and full-body wellness.

		THE VINEYARD HOTEL The Vineyard Hotel is situated in the leafy suburb of Newlands in Cape Town. For more information or to make a booking, visit www.vineyard.co.za or call the hotel on (021) 657 4500.